The Attukal Pongala offering for this year is scheduled for February 25, 2024.
The Attukal Pongala stands as a renowned annual festival observed at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), located in the southern Indian state of Kerala. This event holds the distinction of being one of the most significant gatherings of women for a religious occasion globally. The term “Attukal” specifically denotes the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, serving as the central focus of this celebrated festival.
The Attukal Pongala ritual is an annual celebration held at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. This festival, known as Pongala Mahotsavam, spans 10 days and concludes with a special nighttime sacrificial offering called Kuruthitharpanam. On the ninth day of the festival, a multitude of women, representing various religions and hailing from both India and abroad, congregate in and around the temple grounds to prepare and offer Pongala. This unique dish is crafted by the women themselves using a blend of rice, jaggery, coconut gratings, ghee, and other ingredients, cooked in small open earthen pots.
Exclusive to women on Pongala day, they are granted access to the temple premises. Attukal Pongala stands out for hosting the largest annual assembly of women at a single location on a single day worldwide, as they gather to present their homemade Pongala in devotion to the goddess. Often referred to as the “Sabarimala of women,” this ritual symbolizes a powerful and collective act of pleasing the deity.
Distance from Central Railway Station, Trivandrum to Temple: 2 km
Distance from Trivandrum International Airport to Temple: 11 km
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust, P.B.No. 5805. Manacaud P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695 009, Kerala, South India